Perspirationproof means for hats and the like



Oct. 12, 1943. M. w. GANO, JR

PERSPIRATION-PROOF MEANS FOR HATS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 23, 1940 INVENTOR.

Patented ca 1943,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIGE PERSPIRATIONPROOF arm was MEANS FOR na'rs- 1.11m

Merritt W. Gano, J12, Denver, 0010.

Application December 23, 1940, Serial No. 371,261 I 3 Claims. (oi. z-isi) This invention relates to perspiration-proof means for hats and the like.

One of the main objects, of the invention is to provide improved perspiration-proof means in the form of a thin, flexible, and impervious auxiliary band adapted to be positioned between the sweat band and'the body of thehat, and ofa character effectively to prevent the perspiration, oil and the like from reaching not only the crown of the hat and the outer band, but also the brim of the hat.

Another object of the invention is to provide a perspiration-proof auxiliary band of improved form and characteristics having no stitching or needle indentures therethrough and forming an impervious barrier between the sweat band and the crown of the hat and extending out beneath the inner marginal portion of the brim of the hat.

Another and more specific object of the invention is to provide the auxiliary band with an integral flange adapted to extend out slightly beneath the inner marginal portion of the brim of the hat, the resiliency and form of the auxiliary band preferably being of a character to cause this flange snugly to hug the under surface of the brim of the hat without securing the flange to the hat brim, although it may be so secured within the scope of the present invention.

It is also an object of the invention to provide, if and where desired, for recessing the lower edge of the sweat band into the auxiliary band in such manner that a portion of the auxiliary band will cover the lower edge of the sweat band and give a finished appearance without, for example, stitching finishing tape to the lower edge of the sweat band with the resulting stitching and indentures through which perspiration, oil and the like will follow to the body of the hat and the outer band.

Another object of the invention is to provide an auxiliary perspiration-proof band of the character set forth which is of simple and relatively inexpensive construction, may be conveniently applied, is effective for the purposes herein set forth, and gives comfort to the head and a pleasing appearance.

Further and more detailed objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of the under side of a hat embodying the perspiration-proofband of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentaryse'ctional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view showing the perspir'atiom proof strip from which the auxiliary band is formed;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the auxiliary perspiration-proof band formed of the strip shown in Figure 3; and v Figure 5 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2 showing a modified form of auxiliary band embodying the present invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, the hat proper, shown fragmentarily in Figures 1 and 2, may be formed of felt, straw, or any. other suitable material, and has the usual or any suitable crown portion, indicated at It, and the usual or any suitable brim ll extending generally hori-- zontally therefrom.

It is the usual practice to place a sweat band I2 within the hat, the sweat band I2 usually comprising a soft thin band of leather or other suitable material. These bands I2 absorb perspiration, oil, and the like from the head of the wearer, which perspiration,-oil and the like thence passes to the body of the hat and-the outer band, staining or discoloring the same. Cleaning does not effectively remove such stains or discoloration and, as a result, the sun quickly brings out the stains or discoloration when the hat is worn after such cleaning.

The perspiration, oil and the like frequently passes around the lower edge of the sweat band to the body of, the hat. If there are stitching and needle indentures through the sweat band, the perspiration, oil or the like will follow the same to the body of the hat and the outer band, the stitching acting as a plurality of wicks conveying the perspiration, oil and the like to the crown and outer band, and out along the inner marginal portion of the brim of the hat.

In accordance with the present invention, an impervious or perspiration-proof auxiliary band I5 is placed between the sweat band l2 and the body of the hat. This auxiliary band I5 is preferably made of a transparent, synthetic resin or molded plastic, such as a copolymer of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate or other equivalent material, one example of which is known on the market as Vinylite, although there are other suitable and substantially equivalent plastic materials on the market under other trade names.

The strip of which the auxiliary band I5 is made is preferably formed fiat and of curved form and with the. flange l6 extending laterally or at genera ly right angles to one edge'thereo formed integral with the strip as shown in Figure 3. The curvature of the strip is provided so that when the strip is set up and brought to the shape shown in Figure 4, the resulting band will or plastic material herein described may be injected into one end of the channel, and the molded strip of the desired form and with the integral flange it will feed through the channel, coming out of the opposite end thereof in the form shown in Figure 3.

The molded strip is out into the desired length, and set up and brought to the shape shown in Figure 4, the ends of the strip being secured together at ll, for example, by cementing, butt welding, or otherwise. Alternatively. the ends of the strip may be secured together by overlapping said ends and applying heat to join the same.

The plastic band i5 is preferably made as thin as possible and is tapered to a feather edge i8 at the top or upper edge of the band. The integral flange I6 also preferably tapers to a feather edge at the outer edge thereof, as indicated at 20.

The flange i6 is preferably molded in such a manner that with the resilient character of the material of which the band is made, the outer feather edge of the flange IE will tend toward an upper position and will return to that position if deflected therefrom, the outer feather edge 20 of the flange I6 thus snugly hugging the under surface of the brim l I at all times without securing the flange to the body of the hat. The band I5 is preferably thickened, for example as indicated at 22, to give it sufllcient body to maintain the brim hugging action of the flange l6 as above described. It is to be understood that the flange i6 may, within the broader aspects of the present invention, be secured to the under surface of the brim ii of the hat in any suitable or preferred manner, for example, by cementing it thereto.

In applying the plastic band l5 to the hat, it is inserted into the lower portion of the crown thereof between the sweat band i2 and the body of the hat and with the flange l6 extending out slightly beneath the under surface of the brim l i. The plastic band being transparent, the color of the hat will show through the flange i6, thus presenting a pleasing appearance. The plastic band forms an impervious and imperforate barrier between the sweat band [2 and the crown of the hat, and the flange l6 prevents perspiration, oil, and the like from reaching the brim of the hat around the lower edge of the sweat band [2.

The plastic material of which the band i5 is made serves admirably for the purposes set forth, it being understood that enough plasticizer will preferably be used in this material to provide the characteristics set forth and to make the plastic band sufficiently flexible to give comfort to the head.

The auxiliary plastic band I5 may be secured in place within the hat in any way by existing well-known means, or, for example, by cementing the plastic band to the sweat band [2 and to the inner surface of the hat.

In Figures 1 and 2 I have shown a finishing tape 28 stitched at 28 to and finishing the lower edge of the sweat band I! for the purpose of showing how the plastic band I5 forms an imperforate and impervious barrier between the stitching and stitching holes and the body of the hat, in addition to presenting the protection already described.

The modification shown in Figure 5 is similar to the embodiment of the invention already described, and like parts are designated by primed reference characters corresponding with those used in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive.

In Figure 5, however, the plastic band i5 serves the further function of covering and finishing the lower edge of the sweat band i2. This is accomplished by recessing the lower edge of the sweat band l2 into the plastic band I5 as shown at 30, and thereby covering and finishing the lower edge of the sweat band by the inwardly extending or flange-like portion 32 of the plastic band. This eliminates, for example, finishing tape stitched to the lower edge of the sweat band and the stitching and needle holes presented thereby, and it provides not only more effectively for preventing perspiration, oil, and the like from reaching the body of the hat but also for presenting a pleasing and finished appearance.

I have described the invention in connection with the details of particular embodiments, but I do not intend thereby to limit the invention to such embodiments, nor do I intend to be limited to the precise details shown and described.

I claim:

1. A hat comprising a crown and a brim, a sweat band within the crown of the hat, and a thin, flexible, and resilient plastic band disposed between the sweat band and the crown of the hat and having an integral flange extending out beneath the inner marginal portion of the under surface of the brim, the lower edge of the sweat bandbeing recessed into the intermediate plastic band and covered and finished thereby,

2. A hat comprising a crown and a brim, a sweat band within the crown of the hat, and a thin, flexible, and resilient plastic band disposed between the sweat band and the crown of the hat, the lower edge of the sweat band being recessed into the intermediate plastic band and covered and finished thereby.

3. A hat comprising a crown and a brim, a sweat band of relatively soft leather-like material within the crown of the hat, and a thin flexible auxiliary band of plastic material disposed between said sweat band and said crown provided at its lower edge with an outwardly extending flange fitting snugly about the juncture between the crown and the brim of the hat with the upper face of its outer portion seating snugly against the under face of the brim, the under face of said outer portion of said flange being inclined upward and outward and said flange tapering outward to a feather edge and restraining said auxiliary hand against upward movement relative to said crown, said sweat band being carried by said auxiliary band and otherwise free from said crown and brim and said auxiliary band having appreciable rigidity and resiliency suflicient normally to retain it in close contact with the interior surface of said crown.

MERRITI w. GANO, JR. 

